§ 49. Mr. BOTTOMLEYasked the Prime Minister whether, now that the Pence has been signed, the Government will favourably consider the question of granting free pardon to all imprisoned offenders against naval and military discipline in respect of minor offences?
§ 48. Colonel ASHLEYasked the Prime Minister whether he is prepared to recommend to His Majesty an amnesty for all naval, military, and Air Force offenders guilty of purely military crimes due to or arising from the conditions of the War, if they have taken part in active operations overseas, but excluding those guilty of desertion in the face of the enemy or after having boon warned for the trenches for attack, as an act of Royal grace on the ratification of Peace?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI cannot add anything to the reply which I gave to an un-starred question by the hon. and gallant 1287 Member for Central Hull on this subject, and which appears in Hansard of the 5th of June.
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a considerable number of soldiers at present undergoing punishment for the offence of communicating with a certain weekly journal, the name of which I shall be pleased to give him?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI should not think that that was an offence deserving of very long-continued punishment.